Philadelphia’s commitment to green building and design was highlighted once again last week at an official ceremony that marked the ground breaking of a new, energy efficient residential community.

reNewbold

A joint venture between LPMG Companies, Postgreen Homes and Interface Studio Architects (ISA) is transforming the former site of the Drexel School at the corner of 16th and Moore Streets in the Newbold section of South Philadelphia into the area’s first affordable, green residential community designed to seek LEED Platinum and Energy Star certification.

reNewbold will include 16 superinsulated rowhomes—seven of which have already been sold or reserved—with onsite parking, one street-level retail unit and two condo units built above the retail space. The project is 100 percent privately financed and, according to Curbed Philly, it will be built in two stages, with the development effort focused initially on six units along Bancroft Street.

With prices ranging from $249,000 to $325,000, each two- or three-story home can be customized to meet the buyer’s demand. All units are designed to reach a 50 percent drop in energy use as compared to regular homes similar in size. The rowhomes will feature sustainable amenities such as triple-pane windows, green roofs, roof decks, Energy Star appliances, and low-flow fixtures that will reduce the monthly cost of utilities to around $90. The first homes will be ready for residents to move in in early 2014,

reNewbold

and the entire development should be completed by spring 2015.

Philadelphia Inquirer notes that there are less than 300 LEED certified homes in the city, and 47 of them have attained LEED Platinum, which is the highest level in USGBC’s rating system.